PIA Press ReleaseThursday, November 10, 2011

DSWD-7: 4Ps targets sustainable livelihood for beneficiaries

by Amor Saludar

CEBU CITY, November 10 (PIA) -- Apart from the financial assistance in the areas of health and education for the identified poorest of the poor families under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here said it is partnering with sister government agencies for a convergence of services that can help the families uplift their life such as livelihood opportunities.

DSWD-7 4Ps Program Coordinator Aileen Lariba said government agencies are coordinating in the provision of services to program beneficiaries.

“The Department of Public Works and Highways for example has committed to provide 20 percent of their labor workforce to the program beneficiaries in areas where there are DPWH projects. The husbands cove red under the program could be hired as ‘mason’ or carpenter or any other skilled works needed by the DPWH in their various projects,” Lariba declared during the recent Kapihan sa PIA-Cebu that tackled the government’s cash conditional transfer.

Lariba added that the Department of Health in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment in its RN Heals program will be deploying nurses to Pantawid areas in deliver basic health services to the community including the Pantawid beneficiaries.

“At present we are undergoing a series of convergence caravan in selected provinces under Region 7, which is participated by other government agencies and stakeholders to bring basic services to poor communities including the Pantawid beneficiaries,” Lariba said.

“We are also having consultation dialogues with the different government agencies to discuss what particular services they can offer such as livelihood or other activities that will benefit the program beneficiaries since these are the identified families that are categorized as poorest of the poor,” Lariba bared.

Through the convergence if services, a major highlight of the Pantawid Program, agencies such as DPWH, DOH, TESDA and DA are now offering services that can provide and help boost the lives of the 4Ps beneficiaries.

Last July in celebration of Nutrition Month, the DA-7 provided 20 cans of vegetable seedlings and dwarf coconut plants to Pantawid areas in the region. The seedlings were distributed equally to five barangays included in the Pantawid areas that would benefit 30 to 40 households, this is said.

“The products of these seedlings in one barangay will also be extended to other barangays and the process will continue until all household beneficiaries can harvest the products of these seedlings, “Lariba explained.

The harvested products will be used for consumption of the Pantawid families and the rest of it can be sold to the market for additional income. (FCR/AS/PIA-CEBU)